Cassava grown for Vanuatu workers turns into potential money-maker for NT mango farmer

Cassava grown for Vanuatu workers turns into potential money-maker for NT mango farmer

Richard Butler | from ABC Rural | 30 Dec 2018   A Northern Territory mango farmer who grew cassava at the request of his Pacific Islander workers believes the plant has the potential to be a profitable crop for the Top End. When Katherine farmer Mitchael Curtis employed workers from Vanuatu to pick his mangoes, they asked for cassava for their meals. Mr Curtis struggled to find any cassava to buy, so he planted some on his farm. When the crop grew so well that he ended up with Read more [...]
Vanuatu Vaccines Delivered From the Skies

Vanuatu Vaccines Delivered From the Skies

Richard Butler | Egemen Qazaqstan | 24 Dec 2018   In the village of Cook’s Bay, on the remote side of the remote island of Erromango, in the remote South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, 1-month-old Joy Nowai was given shots for hepatitis and tuberculosis that were delivered by a drone. It was the first vial of vaccine ever delivered that way in Vanuatu, which is the only country in the world to make its childhood vaccine program officially drone-dependent. Vanuatu is an archipelago Read more [...]
Sport: Vanuatu defend Oceania beach volley title

Sport: Vanuatu defend Oceania beach volley title

Richard Butler | RNZ News | 24 Dec 2018 Vanuatu have defended their Oceania Women's Beach Volleyball title, denying Tahiti a clean sweep of the podiums in Papeete. Top seeds Miller Pata and Sherysyn Toko defeated Emere Maau-Boutry and Vaihere Fareura 21-17 21-17 in the final, having also beaten the hosts top pairing in the pool stages. The President of Vanuatu Volleyball, Debbie Masauvakalo, said the result maintained their winning run in Oceania and was also a chance to keep blooding Read more [...]
I made a $1.5 billion mistake in quoting infrastructure development in the South Pacific (Full Article)

I made a $1.5 billion mistake in quoting infrastructure development in the South Pacific (Full Article)

Richard Butler |  19th December 2018... I incorrectly reported last week the Australian Government announced at APEC Papau New Guinea was going to provide $1.5 billion for infrastructure into the South Pacific. It is now $3 billion between the Islands of the South Pacific. A substantial amount of money pouring in for infrastructure, roadworks, airfields, hospitals, schools and humanitarian projects which will provide employment. This answers many dreams for the local political leaders in Pacific Read more [...]
US joins Pacific infrastructure development group

US joins Pacific infrastructure development group

Richard Butler | RNZ News | 13 Dec 2018 The United States has joined a regional infrastructure development group which offers Pacific countries an alternative to Chinese finance for big projects. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced yesterday the US was adding its expertise and financial clout to the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF). PRIF’s ADB co-ordinator Rob Jauncey said the infrastructure requirements of the Pacific region were upwards of US$3 billlion per annum. This Read more [...]